The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has sealed off 150 shops at Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia State, during a two-day enforcement operation conducted on December 16 and 17, 2024.
In a statement released on Wednesday via its official account on X (formerly Twitter), the agency revealed that the raid uncovered a significant network involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit and expired products.
Items seized included beverages, carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food products such as noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt. The destroyed counterfeit goods were estimated to be worth N5 billion.
“This market has become a hotspot for counterfeit and substandard products,” stated Dr. Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s South-East Zone Director, expressing concern over the persistence of illegal activities despite previous agreements with market leaders.
Dr. Iluyomade pointed out that in December 2023, market leaders had signed an agreement pledging to tackle counterfeiting within the market, yet the recent operation indicates ongoing violations.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to public safety and emphasized the importance of eradicating counterfeit goods from Nigerian markets.
“NAFDAC has zero tolerance for such practices,” Prof. Adeyeye said. “We remain unwavering in our mission to protect public health and will continue working toward a permanent solution to the problem of counterfeit products.”
